Chester, Pa. (Aug. 13, 2022) – Chicago Fire FC (8-11-6, 30 points) fell 4-1 to the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia Union (13-3-9, 48 points) at Subaru Park on Saturday night. The away defeat snapped the Fire’s five-game unbeaten run, including consecutive away wins, as the team moved three points below the Eastern Conference playoff line.
Coming into the match looking for a third straight win on the road, the Fire fell behind against the run of play in the 16th minute when Dániel Gazdag chipped the ball into the back of the net. Philadelphia then doubled their lead in the 37th minute off a finish from defender Jack Elliot from inside the six yard box.
The Fire responded early in the second half to get back into the game, adding a goal of their own from winger Chris Mueller in the 49th minute. The scoring play began when Federico Navarro forced a turnover to win possession and laid the ball off to Xherdan Shaqiri. The Swiss midfielder then slotted a well-timed pass into the path of Mueller, who curled a first-time shot across the face of the goal and into the bottom right corner.
Despite Chicago’s numerous attempts to equalize, the Union would find two more goals in the second half, scoring in the 53rd minute via Julián Carranza before adding a fourth from substitute Cory Burke in the 82nd minute to solidify the victory.
NEXT MATCH: Chicago will return home to face New York City FC on Sunday, Aug. 21 at SeatGeek Stadium. Beginning at 5:00 p.m. CT, the match will be televised on WGN-TV and CF97 Live, and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.
Notes:
- With tonight’s result, the Fire have lost just once in their last six matches (4-1-1, 13 points).
- Xherdan Shaqiri has contributed to five goals in the last three away matches (1 goal, 4 assists).
- Shaqiri has recorded four assists in the team’s last four matches. His 11 overall assists are tied for the third-most in MLS.
- Shaqiri is the second player in Club history to record double-digit assists in a single season since 2011, joining midfielder Nico Gaitán (2019).
- Chris Mueller scored his fourth goal of the season. Mueller is tied with Shaqiri for the second-most goals on the team in 2022.
- Javier Casas Jr. made his third regular season appearance for the Fire in tonight’s match, entering as a substitute for Shaqiri late in the second half.
Box Score:
Philadelphia Union 1:4 Chicago Fire FC
Goals:
PHI - Gadzag (12) (Carranza 6) 16’
PHI - Elliott (1) 37’
CHI - Mueller (4) (Shaqiri 11, F. Navarro 3) 48’
PHI - Carranza (9) 53’
PHI - Burke (5) (Mbaizo 3, Gadzag 6) 82’
Discipline:
CHI - Pineda (Yellow Card) 3’
PHI - Bedoya (Yellow Card) 28’
CHI - Shaqiri (Yellow Card) 70’
PHI - Burke (Yellow Card) 85’
PHI - Mbaizo (Yellow Card) 90+2’
Chicago Fire FC: GK Slonina, D M. Navarro, D Czichos, D Pineda, D Sekulić (Reynolds II, 87’), M Giménez (Herbers, 66’), M F. Navarro, M Torres (Gutiérrez, 66’), M Shaqiri (Casas Jr., 79’), M Mueller, F Przybyłko (Durán, 66’)
Subs not used: GK Richey, D Bornstein, F Bezerra
Philadelphia Union: GK Blake, D Wagner, D Glesnes, D Elliott, D Mbaizo, M Flach, M McGlynn (Martinez, 72’), M Bedoya, M Gazdag (Aaronson, 86’), F Carranza (Sullivan, 86’), F Uhre (Burke, 72’)
Subs not used: GK Freese, D Real, F Donovan, D Harriel, M Craig
Stats Summary: PHI / CHI
Shots: 17 / 13
Shots on Goal: 7 / 7
Saves: 6 / 3
Passing Accuracy: 77.5% / 84.4%
Corners: 6 / 6
Fouls: 21 / 8
Offsides: 2 / 1
Possession: 43.7% / 56.3%
Attendance: 18,682
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Assistant Referees: Corey Parker, Brian Dunn
Fourth Official: Jeremy Scheer
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic, Corey Rockwell
